A quick check of any news site’s lifestyle headings will include at least three posts about how you can improve your health. If you did everything suggested at any given time, your life would be exclusively dedicated to your diet, exercise routines and stress management practices.
Some of these things are important. Vital actually. But, you need to have a life too.
I’ve taken stock of our routines and picked five ways that we simplify healthy living in our house.
- Oatmeal Pucks: Thank you Amy! New Nostalgia has a great tutorial about how to cook up and freeze big batches of steel cut oatmeal. They take 2 minutes to microwave in the morning from the freezer, vs. 30 minute to actually cook a fresh batch each day. Oatmeal is serious power-food. Filling, fiber-packed, day-starting goodness. I top mine with berries in the spring/summer and apples or pears in the fall/winter. A splash of non-dairy milk, maybe some nuts, and breakfast is ready.
My oatmeal pucks just out of the freezer and ready for bagging.
- Bella Rocket Blender: Dirty blenders make me sad. They have too many parts that have to be taken apart and cleaned. And, for the life of me, I can’t re-attach the bottom blades to the pitcher so that it doesn’t leak everywhere the next time I want a smoothie. One day we were browsing Macy’s and saw a rocket blender. I’d seen infomercials about this sort of thing. We thought it looked easier to clean, and you blend right in the glass you drink out of, so no extra dishes. It is fabulous! Quick, easy, powerful. A daily green drink or protein-packed energy booster is way more enticing now.
This is Phillip’s smoothie, in process. It includes: frozen banana, frozen berries, apple juice, protein powder and a fist-full of kale.
- Pill Sorters: I currently take 7 pills each day. Once each week I refill my pill sorters and take a handful in the morning and again before bed. I only have to think about my meds and open the bottles once each week. If supplements are part of your routine, pill sorters make it easy to remember what you need to take and when.
- Mindfulness: Meditation is good for us: Relieves stress. Puts things in perspective. Centers scattered thoughts and worries. Finding time for meditation is more difficult. I have recently been practicing mindfulness as a regular part of everyday life. Mindfulness is the practice of relaxing away from your thoughts, letting them be exactly what they are without becoming involved and moving dramatic storylines along. It feels like you become a witness to your life. You are more present and aware of what you’re doing as opposed to getting lost in thought. Psychology Today has a great guide on all things mindful. It’s the benefits of meditation spread throughout everyday responsibilities; no need to take time away from your day for sitting in silence.
- Powdered Wheatgrass: Wheatgrass is an alkalizing food. It reduces acid in the body to create a more harmonious environment. It is beneficial to your immune system, your bones and your mood. Getting juice out of actual wheatgrass is a laborious task. Fortunately, they make the stuff powered. True, it’s probably not as nutritious as taking a fresh wheatgrass shot, but it is easy, and if that means you’ll actually do it, than it is worth trying. I add a scoop to a small glass of juice or dump some into my smoothie in the rocket blender. Did I mention I love our rocket blender?
As for exercise, I haven’t found any shortcuts that mean you don’t actually have to move your body. I still head to the gym for a dance-style workout class. Phillip and I also enjoy hiking and biking, but those also require prolonged movement. There are exercises you could do while doing other things, kegels anyone? And cleaning house is always a workout, but who wants to do that?
What shortcuts make healthy living easier for you?
Shared at:
